Toy aircraft and blank



1965 w. J. SHAPIRO 3,221,441

TOY AIRCRAFT AND BLANK Filed Feb. 23, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILL/HM J: SHHP/RQ HTTORNEY Dec. 7, 1965 w. J. SHAPIRO 3,221,441

TOY AIRCRAFT AND BLANK Filed Feb. 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 22 /8 I I, la 22 L E I I l 2 7 ll '1 27 I 26 26 I 2a 2a I 20 I '7 zo 27 T 27 l 25 0%36 36 23 I /2 110 22 25 22 25a 30 I 30 3f) 29 F 29 INVENTOR. WILL/HM J SHHP/RO H TT'ORNEIY rates United? The invention is for a toy aircraft such as a glider and helicopter which may be made of heavy paper, cardboard and the like which is folded into form and is light enough in weight in glider form for projected flight as by an elastic. The glider and helicoper may also be whirled on the end of a string. The invention is directed more particularly to a fuselage and also to a fuselage blank from which the glider or helicopter may be assembled or folded.

An object of the invention is to construct a toy aircraft fuselage having vertical and horizontal fuselage portions which give rigidity to the other portion.

Another object of the invention is to construct a toy glider which has a fuselage folded into finished form.

Another object is to provide a fuselage blank with all parts integral which is folded into fuselage form.

A further object is to construct a toy aircraft from sheet material having a flat horizontal fuselage portion with laterally extending panels on each side thereof in unfolded form which when folded over or under the horizontal fuselage portion forms a vertical fuselage portion as well as a pair of enclosed hoods which simulate jet tubes and which also give vertical support to at least a part of the forward length of the fuselage portion.

Another object is as in the preceding objects and in addition provides a wing means integral with the horizontal fuselage portion and providing a wing projecting laterally from each side thereof.

Another object of the invention is to construct a toy glider with a horizontal fuselage portion having a laterally extending panel on each side thereof which is folded over or under to form a hood simulating a jet tube and a vertical fuselage portion extending the full length of horizontal portion and which secures a wing member in position between the vertical fuselage portion and the horizontal fuselage portion.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fuselage blank of the glider with a wing member in assembled position before fold- FIG. 2 is a front view of the folded glider;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the folded glider;

FIG. 4 shows a similar construction in which the wing means is integral with the horizontal fuselage portion;

FIG. 5 is a view of the tail of one vertical fuselage element in which both elements are to be folded underneath the horizontal fuselage portion with a rudder projecting above; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fuselage for a heli- Copter.

The glider blank 10 of FIG. 1 includes a horizontal fuselage portion 11 having slot means which is preferably a single forward slot 12 and a single rear slot 13, shown centrally of or on a central longitudinally axis of the horizontal fuselage portion and extending fore and aft or longitudinally thereof. Each slot provides slot or securing means for securing the folded assembly together as will appear hereinafter. A stabilizer 14 extends laterally from each side of the horizontal fuselage portion at the rear end thereof. Spaced trim tabs 15 may be provided for area: 0

3,221,441" Patented Dec. 7, 1965 2 the .glider at any; convenient point; those shown being carried by the stabilizer at its rear edge.

At the forward end of the horizontal fuselage portion and on each side or laterally thereof is an integral first panel 18, shown as being narrowed in front and tapering to a wider dimension rearwardly although this is not essential. The edges of this panel are formed by inner or first folding lines or axes 19 and outer or second folding axes 20 spaced laterally outwardly from the first edge and which axes form a first edge and a second edge respectively for each panel. These axes extend longitudinally of the central axis. Each folding axis is shown at an angle with respect to each other and with respect to the central axis of the horizontal fuselage portion passing through the slots although these folding axes need not be angularly directed.

Integral with the outer or second edge or second folding axis 20 of each first panel is a second panel to form a vertical fuselage element 23 with an outer or abutting edge 22. Each vertical fuselage element, in the form shown, has a length the same as or approximately the same as that of the horizontal fuselage portion. The vertical fuselage elements need be no longer than the folding axis 19 or the first edge or axis of the panel 18. At least one of these vertical fuselage elements carry a rudder element 24 shown in the blank of FIG. 1 as extending inwardly or on the same side of the element as the panel 18. The two vertical fuselage elements when folded into the glider, form a vertical fuselage portion and the two rudder elements form a rudder or rudder means.

Any suitable means may be used for retaining the glider and the fuselage in folded or assembled relation. The means particularly illustrated includes a projection 26 carried by the vertical fuselage portion adjacent the front end thereof which is received in and cooperates with the slot 12. After insertion in the slot, one or more bendable tabs 27 carried thereby may be bent laterally on the opposite side of the horizontal fuselage portion to lock the assembly in folded relation. The projection 26 may carry a rearwardly projected notch or edge 28 which may serve as a projection to be engaged by a rubber band or by the hand and providing one way by which the glider may be projected for free flight. When the vertical fuselage elements are long and extend the length of or approximately the length of the horizontal fuselage portion, they desirably carry a second projection 29 having one or more tabs 30 which projection is received in the slot 13 and by bending the tab or tabs 30, the rear end of each vertical fuselage element is locked in assembled relation with the horizontal fuselage protion.

The folded fuselage carries wing means 33 to complete the glider. The wing means is preferably received between the horizontal fuselage portion and the abutting edges 22 of the vertical fuselage elements 23 although it may be between the horizontal fuselage portion and the tabs 2'7 on the rear end of its projection and the forward tabs 30 of its projection. The rear portion of the outer edges 22 angle inwardly with respect to the forward portion at one angle of approximately 5". If this angle begins such as at point 25 or at the forward end of the wing means when the glider is folded the wing means tilts upwardly with respect to the forward portion. If the point 25 is located between the forward and rear edges of the wing means, the wing means is given camber. Preferably in the construction of FIGS. 13, the angle begins at 25a at the rear edge of the wing means to tilt the stabilizer 14 angularly upwardly with respect to the wing means. The wing means has slots 34 and 35 which receives the projections 26 and 29 and locate the wing means on the fuselage. It is desirable also to have a forward is projection 37 which is received between the first panels when folded to further locate and retain the wing means in assembled relation. When the locking tabs 27, 39 are bent laterally the wing means is securely held to the fuselage.

In assembling the glider, the Wing means is inserted as shown in FIG. 1 with the rear ends of the vertical fuselage portions overlying the wing means. The vertical fuselage portions 23 and the panels 18 of the blank are bent upwardly along the bending axes 19 and Whereupon the projections 26 and 29 may be inserted through their respective slots or slot means 12 and 13. The folding axes 19 and 20 may have a creased score or knife edge slicing part way through the blank material if it is relatively heavy to facilitate bending thereof. When the blank is folded as described, and the projections 26 and 29 inserted in their respective slots 12 and 13, a pair of triangular hoods are formed in side by side relation with the construction having a single central slot or slots for both vertical fuselage elements. Separate laterally spaced slots result in a hood in adjacent relation at the forward end of the glider. In the folding process the vertical fuselage portion 23 is brought into alignment with the center of the horizontal fuselage portion and vertical relation thereto. With the locking tabs 27 and 3t bent laterally, the vertical fuselage portion is attached in vertical relation to the horizontal fuselage portion 11 so that the latter is given vertical rigidity throughout at least the forward end. The nose or forward portion is given particular rigidity by virtue of the pair of triangular hoods at the forward end. For vertical fuselage elements of the same length or approximately the same length as the horizontal fuselage portion, vertical support or rigidity is secured for the full length.

The hoods simulate a pair of jet or rocket tubes of a jet plane and also provides suflicient weight to the nose of the glider so that it is not necessary to apply additional weight to give successful flight. In the same manner that the vertical fuselage portion gives vertical rigidity or support to the horizontal fuselage portion so too the horizontal fuselage portion gives lateral rigidity to the vertical fuselage portion or elements.

A glider within the scope of the disclosure herein includes a panel 18 carried at the forward end of the fuselage. and a length of vertical fuselage element 23 corresponding with the length of panel 18 which panels when folded form a pair of reenforcing triangular hoods at the forward end only of the glider or horizontal fuselage portion. Other provisions may be made to provide a rudder and to reinforce the rear end of the fuselage or glider. The glider illustrated includes panels 18 having a lateral dimension to bring each folding axis 20 over or under the horizontal fuselage portion. This dimension need not be such as to bring the two vertical fuselage portions 23 in side by side relation as shown. By selecting a proper width for the panels 18, and the vertical fuselage elements, the vertical dimension of the hoods may be made greater or lesser.

It is to be noted that by angling each edge 22 of the vertical fuselage portion 23 with respect to the forward portion of this edge, that the wing means 14 may be set at an angle to give wing tilt or camber with respect to the forward or nose portion of the glider as viewed in FIG. 3 or angularity between stabilizer and Wing means. In the delta wing construction of FIG. 4 the angled edge beginning at point 25a gives the rear portion of the wing means an angle with respect to the forward portion. The angle shown is inwardly which in the assembly is upwardly although it may be outwardly and hence downwardly.

If the glider is to have captive flight and be swung around on a string or cord, holes 36 may be provided approximately centrally of the glider. It should be noted also that a string tied around the fuselage portion passing through the holes 36 may serve as a means for more securely retaining the vertical fuselage portions in folded or assembled relation. It is clear too that instead of the tabs, adhesive or stapling may be used between contacting surfaces for holding the glider in folded or assembled relation. Such means may also be used in addition to the tabs particularly illustrated.

In the construction of FIG. 4 the horizontal fuselage portion, the side panels and the vertical fuselage elements as well as the other associated parts are identical with that illustrated in FIG. 1, except that the horizontal fuselage portion lacks stabilizers, and hence the fuselage portion need not be again described. The Wing means 40 is of the form known as a delta wing and is integral with the horizontal fuselage portion. The connection is along a rear edge forming a folding axis 41 at the end of the horizontal fuselage portion. The wing means has slot means 42 corresponding with the slot means 34 and particularly shown as a single longitudinally extending slot which when the wing means is folded forwardly matches or overlies slot 34. The wing means may also have an extension 43' which rests between the folded panels 13 when assembled and aids in aligning and securing the wing means in folded position. The wing means may have trim tabs 43 in the rear edge when folded which may be bent up or down or alternately provide correction in order to secure straight or curved free flight as desired. The rear portion of the abutting edge 22 of the fuselage is at an angle with respect to the forward portion so that the point 25a is approximately at the center of the longitudinal extent of the wing means.

The wing means is bent forwardly along the folding axis 41 so that it lies along either above or below the rear end of the horizontal fuselage portion. The locking projection 29 passes through the slot 34 and 42 and the laterally bent locking tabs 30 secure or anchor the wing means in position with respect to the horizontal fuselage portion and rearwardly of the panels 18. This wing means, when folded upwardly over the fuselage portion, is secured between the abutting edges 22 and the horizontal fuselage portion. When the wing means is bent downwardly and underneath of the horizontal fuselage portion it is anchored or secured in position by the tab means 3%. This glider also may be projected with a rubber band or may be twirled from the end of a string secured in holes 36 to give it flight. The wing means of FIG. 1 may in a similar manner be carried integrally with the horizontal fuselage portion.

FIG. 5 shows the tail end of one of the vertical fuselage portions for the constructions of FIGS. 1 and 4 with similar parts similarly numbered. In this construction the rudder 47 extends outwardly rather than inwardly as shown in the other figures and may be regarded as an extension of the rear projection 29. This construction is adapted for folding the vertical fuselage portion downwardly and underneath the horizontal fuselage portion in which event the rudder means 47 projects through the slot 34 of FIG. 1 or the slots 34 and 42 of FIG. 4 so that it is projected upwardly with respect to or above the horizontal fuselage portion. With the vertical fuselage elements so folded the support or rigidity for the horizontal fuselage portion is secured in the same manner as in any other constructions as well as the lateral support given to the vertical fuselage portions given by the horizontal fuselage portions. The hoods or jet tubes are then underneath the horizontal fuselage portion.

In the construction of FIGS 1 to 3 and 5, all parts of the fuselage including the securing means are integral so that none can be lost or misplaced. In the construction of FIG. 4 and as constructed in FIG. 5 all parts of the glider are integral and hence are not separable. The blanks of these gliders are very well suited to be printed or tear separable upon packages such as cereal boxes.

The fuselage construction described herein is also suitable for forming the fuselage ofa helicopter type of aircraft as illustrated in FIG. 6. In this construction the horizontal fuselage portion 50 is given longitudinal rigidity through a pair of hoods shown as triangular hoods on each side. The hoods are formed by side panels 51 which are integral with the horizontal fuselage portion along bending or folding axes 52 at the inner edge of each panel or side edges of the horizontal fuselage portion. Each panel has a folding axis or edge 53 at the outer edge thereof. A vertical fuselage element 54 is integral with the outer folding edge or axis 53 of each panel and when folded is directed at right angles to the horizontal fuselage portion 50 with each outer edge 55 abutting the same. The angularity of the panels is shown greater in this construction than in the glider forms in order to give a greater vertical dimension to the hoods so that the fuselage more nearly simulates the cabin of a helicopter type of aircraft.

The fuselage, and as particularly shown, the horizontal fuselage portion carries a platform 56 having a hole 57 therethrough through which a propeller axis or pivot may pass such as a string 58 to receive and pivotally mount a propeller 59 of any desired construction. The string is long enough also to be used to twirl the helicopter toy. Tail structure 60 projects rearwardly and constitutes an extension of each of the vertical fuselage elements 54. The platform is secured to the vertical fuselage elements by means such as adhesive tape.

Securing means secure the fuselage in folded or assembled relation. The securing means shown is like that shown in the other forms and includes a projection 64 integral with the outer or abutting edges of the vertical fuselage elements. The projections extend through slot means shown as a single slot 65 centrally of the horizontal fuselage portion. The projection carries one or more tabs 66 which are bent laterally to lock the vertical fuselage elements to the horizontal fuselage portion.

In the helicopter structure illustrated, the fuselage has the horizontal fuselage portion upwardly. It is clear that the fuselage may be inverted and a suitable propeller platform provided such as by laterally extending ears 68 carried by each vertical fuselage element. The ears have an axle or string opening 69 for an axle and twirling string and a tie hole 70 may be provided nearby.

The terms folding edge or folding axis as used herein constitute an integral hinge means.

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in a toy glider and blank. It is understood that various modifications in structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefiting from the teachings of an invention. This disclosure illustrates the preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy glider comprising a horizontal fuselage portion having a forward end and a rear end and a central longitudinal axis, a panel integral at a longitudinally extending first edge of the horizontal fuselage portion on each side thereof and spaced laterally from the central longitudinal axis, the panels being at the forward end of the horizontal fuselage portion and having an integral hinge connection at the first edge on one side of the horizontal fuselage portion, each panel having a longitudinally extending second edge spaced vertically from the horizontal fuselage portion, a vertical fuselage element integral with the second edge of each panel and having an integral hinge connection at the second edge and extending generally vertically with respect to and towards the horizontal fuselage portion from the second edge, each vertical fuselage element having a longitudinal length at least as long as the second edge of the panel, each panel having a lateral dimension so that the second edge is spaced from and vertically located with respect to the horizontal fuselage portion, the vertical fuselage elements having abutting edges spaced from the second edge which edges abut the horizontal fuselage portion, the panels and 6 the vertical fuselage elements forming forward hoods, the vertical fuselage elements giving vertical rigidity to the horizontal fuselage portion, and wing means carried by the fuselage adjacent to and rearwardly of the panels and extending laterally on each side of the horizontal fuselage portion.

2. A toy glider as in claim 1 in which the vertical fuselage elements have a length corresponding with the length of the horizontal fuselage portion and giving vertical rigidity to the latter for the length thereof.

3. A toy glider as in claim 1 in which the wing means is integral with the horizontal fuselage portion.

4. A toy glider as in claim 2 in which the Wing means is secured to the fuselage between the abutting edges of the vertical fuselage elements and the horizontal fuselage portion.

5. A toy glider as in claim 2 in which the wing means has a rear edge which is integral with the tail end of the horizontal fuselage portion, the wing means extending forwardly upon the horizontal fuselage portion and located rearwardly of the hoods.

6. A toy glider as in claim 2 in which the panels and vertical fuselage elements are located underneath the horizontal fuselage portion, and in which there is a longitudinally extending slot means at the rear of the horizontal fuselage portion, at least one of the vertical fuselage elements having rudder means integral with the abutting edge and at the rear end there-of, and the slot means having a length to pass the rudder means therethrough from underneath.

7. A toy glider as in claim 2 in which the horizontal fuselage portion has a rearward portion beginning at the rear end of the panels, and in which the outer abutting edge of each vertical fuselage element has a forward portion and a rearward portion beginning approximately at the rear end of the hoods, and at least a part of the rearward portion of each outer abutting edge extends at a small angle with respect to the forward portion of the outer edge to give an upward angle to at least a part of the rear portion of the horizontal fuselage portion.

8. A toy glider as in claim 2 in which each vertical fuselage element has a projection integral with the outer edge thereof, the horizontal fuselage portion having a slot to pass the projection therethrough to provide for a rubber band glider projector.

9. A blank for a toy comprising a central fuselage portion having a forward end and a rear end and a central longitudinal axis, slot means extending longitudinally through the central fuselage portion, a panel integral at a longitudinally extending first edge with the central fuselage portion on each side thereof and spaced laterally from the central longitudinal axis, the panels being solely at the forward end of the central fuselage portion, each panel having a longitudinally extending second connecting edge spaced laterally outwardly from the first edge with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the central fuselage portion, a fuselage element integral with the second edge of each panel, the first and second edges being integral hinge means, each fuselage element having a length at least as long as the second edge of the panel, each fuselage element having an outer edge, at least one projection extending outwardly from the outer edge of each fuselage element and having a longitudinal length comparable to the length of the slot means, at least one locking tab carried at the second edge and having a dimension to pass through the slot means to lock the edge to the central fuselage portion and each panel having a lateral dimension between the first edge and the second edge and each fuselage element having a lateral dimension between the second edge and the outer edge such that their combined lateral dimension is greater than the lateral dimension between the first edge and the slot means.

10. A blank for a toy glider as in claim 9 including wing means integral with the central fuselage portion.

11. A blank for a toy glider as in claim 9 in which the central fuselage portion has a rear end and including Wing means having a rear edge integrally connected with the rear end of the central fuselage portion.

12. A blank for a toy glider as in claim 9 in which the central fuselage portion has a rearward portion beginning at the rear end of the panel, and in which the outer edge of each fuselage element has a forward portion and a rearward portion beginning approximately at the rear end of the panel, and at least a part of the rearward portion of each outer edge extends at a small angle with respect to the forward portion of the outer edge.

13. A toy aircraft fuselage comprising a horizontal. fuselage portion having a forward end and a rear end and a central longitudinal axis, a panel integral at a longitudinally extending first edge of the horizontal fuselage portion on each side thereof and spaced laterally from the central longitudinal axis, the panels being at the forward end of the horizontal fuselage portion, each. panel having a longitudinally extending second edge: spaced laterally outwardly from the first edge with respect to the central axis of the horizontal fuselage por-- tion, a vertical fuselage element integral with the secnd edge of each panel on an integral hinge connection and extending generally vertically with respect to and toward the horizontal fuselage portion, each vertical fuselage element having a longitudinal length at least as long as the second edge of the panel, each panel hav-- ing a lateral dimension locating the second edge vertically with respect to the horizontal fuselage portion, the vertical fuselage elements having abutting edges which edges abut the horizontal fuselage portion, the panels and the vertical fuselage elements forming forward hoods, the vertical fuselage elements giving vertical. rigidity to the horizontal fuselage portion and the horizontal fuselage portion giving lateral rigidity to the vertical fuselage elements, and means carried by the fuselage to receive a flight member.

14. A toy aircraft as in claim 13 in which the means to receive a flight member is a helicopter rotor platform, and a rotor rotatably mounted on the platform.

15. A toy body of flexible sheet material comprising a horizontal body portion having a forward end and a rear end and a central longitudinal axis, the horizontal body portion having a slot of substantial length extending along the central longitudinal axis, a panel integral at a longitudinally extending first edge of the horizontal body portion on each side thereof and spaced laterally from the central longitudinal axis, the panels being at the forward end of the horizontal body portion and having an integral hinge connection at the first edge and -extending at an angle with respect to the horizontal body ,portion, each panel having a longitudinally extending second edge spaced from the first edge and the horizontal body portion, a vertical body element integral with the :second edge of each panel and having an integral hinge connection at the second edge and extending generally vertically with respect to and towards the horizontal body portion from the second edge, each vertical body element having a longitudinal length at least as long as the second edge of the panel, each panel having a lateral dimension so that the second edge is spaced from and veritcally located with respect to the horizontal body portion, the vertical body elements having abutting edges spaced from the second edge which edges abut the horizontal body portion, each vertical body element having an extension with a longitudinal dimension corresponding with the length of the slot in the horizontal body portion and a lateral dimension extending beyond the abutting edges so that the extensions extend through the slot, the panels and the vertical body elements forming forward hoods, the vertical body elements giving vertical rigidity to the horizontal body portion and the horizontal body portion giving lateral rigidity to the vertical body r elements.

16. A toy aircraft as in claim 13 including a flight member mounted on the flight member receiving means.

17. A blank as in claim 9 in which the panels and the central fuselage portion have a rear end, and including an extension of at least one fuselage element extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the panels and the central fuselage portion to form tail structure, and platform means integrally connected to one of the parts including the central fuselage portion and the fuselage element on integral hinge means and located adjacent to and rearwardly of the rear end of the panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,542,197 6/1925 Weber 4677 1,791,366 2/1931 Markowitz 4678 1,803,789 5/1931 Burgess 46-79 1,902,001 3/1933 Wasserberg 4676 2,622,881 12/1952 Fritsche 4679 X 2,825,179 3/1958 Ferlen 4679 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ELLIS E. FULLER, DELBERT B. LOWE, JOHN HORAN, Examiners. 

13. A TOY ARICRAFT FUSELAGE COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION HAVING A FORWARD END AND A REAR END AND A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A PANEL INTEGRAL AT A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FIRST EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION ON EACH SIDE THEREOF AND SPACED LATERALLY FROM THE CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS, THE PANELS BEING T THE FORWARD END OF THE HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION, EACH PANEL HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SECOND EDGE SPACED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE FIRST EDGE WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE HORIZONTAL FUSEAGE PORTION, A VERTICAL FUSELEAGE ELEMENT INTEGRAL WITH THE SECOND EDGE OF EACH PANEL ON AN INTEGRAL HINGE CONNECTION AND EXTENDING GENERALLY VERTICALLY WITH RESPECT TO AND TOWARD THE HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION, EACH VERTICAL FUSELAGE ELEMENT HAVING A LONGITUDINAL LENGTH AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE SECOND EDGE OF THE PANEL, EACH PANEL HAVING A LATERAL DIMENSION LOCATING THE SECOND EDGE VERTICALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION, THE VERTICAL FUSELAGE ELEMENTS HAVING ABUTTING EDGES WHICH EDGES ABUT THE HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION, THE PANELS AND THE VERTICAL FUSELAGE ELEMENTS FORMING FORWARD HOODS, THE VERTICAL FUSELAGE ELEMENTS GIVING VERTICAL RIGIDITY TO THE HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION AND THE HORIZONTAL FUSELAGE PORTION GIVING LATERAL RIGIDITY TO THE VERTICAL FUSELAGE ELEMENTS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE FUSELAGE TO RECEIVE A FLIGHT MEMBER. 